fitness news
,
Font size Fertility & Pregnancy
Liver Protein Necessary for Ovulation
– Reported July 02, 2013
(Ivanhoe Newswire) New research led by Bruce Murphy from the University of Montreals Animal Reproduction Research Centre showed that the liver protein Lhr-1 is essential for human menstruation and may also be crucial in pregnancy. In the study, the mice that were engineered to not have Lhr-1 could not create the necessary uterine conditions for a healthy pregnancy. It was then proved Lhr-1is present in human uteruses and also important to successful gestation.
The new data suggests that a deficiency of this protein may contribute to gestational failure, and unfortunately, hormone therapy does not help. Although hormone therapy allowed for the embryos to implant, we saw problems with the lining in the uterus, compromised formation of the placenta, fetal growth retardation and fetal death, Murphy was quoted as saying.
SOURCE: Nature Medicine, June 2013
